- The Tale of the Garlic Scape - or, perhaps better described as the tail of the garlic plant itself, if you will.
The
actual garlic bulb/head that we buy and use and cook with lives and
grows in the ground beneath the stalk and the green leaves that you see
growing out of the ground in this garden. And out from those stalks
comes the flower of the garlic plant, otherwise known as garlic
scapes. It is essential to chop the flower/scape off the plant before
it blooms so that it doesn't steal all of the nutrients and sunshine
from the bulb that is still in the ground and not yet mature or
fortified enough to be pulled for the eatin'. They really make your
hands smell like garlic, although when you cook with them they are far
more mild than cooking with garlic cloves. They are great in a stir
fry. They are great chopped finely in a salad dressing and absolutely
delicious and irresistable blended as a pesto.
The scapes need to be snipped off the plant in july and then
the best conditions for the garlic from then on is for dry weather and
the bulb in the ground absorbs the moisture in the green leaves above.
The leaves continue to yellow and the bulbs are ready to be pulled from
the ground in mid-August and then hung up to dry for about a month and
then ready to sell for seed or for use once they have dried. When I
chopped the larger scapes off the plant and saved them in a glass jar,
as a flower arrangement, they lasted for about two months as living
plants.
Winner of Summer Localvore Challenge
Floating in the Hudson River and attached to Manhattan by a narrow walkway, The Science Barge won the first of three Jungle-Fusion Localvore Challenges for 2007. Using sustainable engineering, they designed a self-contained "farm" that creates its own power, water, and food. Their hydroponic system requires no pesticides or fertilizer and creates no pollution. This controlled environment can be easily replicated on city roofs to feed large urban populations.
Enter the Winter 2007 Localvore Challenge
It is easy to enter. Go to a farmer's market or visit a local farm. Look for an ingredient that catches your eye and find out how a farmer suggests that you prepare it. Experiment. Take photos. Enjoy a great meal and send us your story. Click HERE to find out more.
